UAF – Ukrainian Forces
RF – Russian Forces
Summary of the Events
UAF are slowly moving towards liberating Svatove, the logistical hub of RF in northern Luhansk region, reaching within artillery range of the Svatove-Kreminna highway cutting off that supply route. RF have switched their main objective of taking Bakhmut to first taking Avdiivka, but with no success over the last week.
Sloboda Front (UAF)
Red lines were the RF front a week ago
UAF moved closer towards Svatove liberating Miasozharivka, Karmazynivka, Novosadove, and Nevske. UAF are within artillery range of the Svatove-Kreminna Highway cutting off that supply line. UAF have reached the outskirts of Novoselivka, Ploshchanka, and Chervonopopivka.
Siversky Donets Front (UAF)
RF continue assault attempts towards Spirne, Bilohorivka, and Verkhnokamyanske, but are repulsed each time.
Bakhmut Front (RF)
UAF have sent the 62nd Mechanized Brigade as reinforcements in defending Bakhmut. Each time RF advance a few meters, they are beaten back. Street fighting continues in Soledar, but RF have pulled back from Bakhmutske. RF made unsuccessful assaults against Ivanhrad, Andriivka, Kurdyumivka, Mayorsk, Yakovlivka, and Zelenopillya.
Avdiivka Front (RF)
In the past, Avdiivka was included in the Donetsk Front, but since RF have made the capture of this city their top priority, I have separated it out. RF broke through UAF lines north of the Donetsk Airport reaching the outskirts of Vodiane where fighting is intense. RF also attempted to break through at Kamianka but were repulsed.
Donetsk Front (RF)
RF continue to assault Marinka, Novomykhailivka, Kamianka, Nevelske, Marinka, and Vremivka, but are repulsed every time. RF have had a little more success towards Pervomaiskyi where they advance a few meters each day.
Zaporizhia Front
No change on the ground.
Kherson Front (UAF)
UAF liberated Pyatykhatky. Companies of RF, normally 100 personnel strong, are now operating with 6 to 8 soldiers.
Other News
The week began with Russia claiming they had intelligence that Ukraine was preparing a dirty bomb (radioactive) to use against RF in occupied regions as a pretext to permit them to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. The world moved the closest it has ever been to nuclear war. But after the world overwhelmingly rejected Russia’s claim, the threat has lowered.
New Russian troops are posting videos of their poor condition and training. The untrained new recruits have a life expectancy of ten days once they reach the front lines. Some Russian soldiers arrive on the front line without any weapons, and those that have weapons are issued rifles from the 1950s.
Iran has pledged to provide 40 gas turbines to Russia to help its gas and oil industry that is suffering under worldwide sanctions.
Russia continues to shell territory they occupy around the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant placing Europe on the brink of nuclear disaster.
86% of Ukrainians want to continue the armed struggle and resist Russian aggression.
Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the financier of Russia’s private military force known as the Wagner force, is growing in power and is now a threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Whereas RF are lacking in basic supplies, Wagner forces are fully equipped. It is the Wagner group that is leading the attacks on Bakhmut and Avdiivka, the only front where RF still have minimal success. Prigozhin has distanced himself from Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov who leads another feared battalion of Chechen troops who took Mariupol. Chechens, remembering how Ukrainians saved their people during the Stalin purge, are growing weary of the war against Ukraine.
Ukraine struck an administrative center in occupied Kherson on Monday which was being used by Chechen forces killing at 150 Chechens. Kadyrov took to the airwaves in a rambling tirade against Russian military leadership and called for a jihad against Ukraine.
Russia has destroyed a third of Ukraine’s energy grid. Ukraine has been forced to ration energy and ask for its citizens living abroad not to return until after winter. Four million Ukrainians are without power. Another massive attack on Kyiv’s energy grid was conducted this last Monday. Much of the capital is without electricity and water.
The newly created Space Force of the U.S. military may soon have its first challenge as Russia has threatened to attack satellites being used to provide intelligence to Ukraine.
China announced its desire to build a stronger partnership with Russia and supports Russia in its struggle against Ukraine.
Russia began the week reneging on the grain deal brokered with Ukraine by blocking 165 cargo ships from approaching Ukraine from Turkey. Then on Saturday, Russia cancelled the grain deal after claiming Ukraine attacked the Russian-occupied port of Sevastopol in Crimea. Ukraine ignored the Russian announcement sending six cargo ships full of grain towards Turkey.
52 Ukrainian POWs were released on Saturday in the latest prisoner exchange, including officers, medics, sergeants, and soldiers. Two of the Azov defenders of Mariupol were part of the exchange.
A Russian missile shot down by Ukrainian air defenses fell on a village in Moldova on Monday. There were no casualties.
International Support
UAF continue to shoot down military drones supplied by Iran at a rate of 85% thanks to the training and intelligence provided by Israel. Israel has supplied Ukraine with its Smart Shooter Anti-Drone System.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi showed support for Ukraine by attending the Parliamentary Summit of Crimea Platform held in Zagreb this week. The Summit condemns Russia’s occupation of Crimea and is working to return the territory to Ukraine. She assured Ukraine that U.S. support for Ukraine is bipartisan and will not be impacted by U.S. politics even though lawmakers on the left are urging Ukraine to make a settlement to Russia including the loss of territory if necessary.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Tuesday, his first since Russia’s renewed invasion last February. He has promised to help Ukraine with its energy shortage due to Russia’s attacks on the energy sector.
The World Bank has released another $500 million to help Ukraine meet urgent spending needs caused by the Russian invasion.
Recently elected Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed her government’s support of Ukraine in her first address to parliament on Tuesday.
Recently elected UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made his first telephone call to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to reassure Ukraine of continued British support.
Representatives from the G7 and G20 members states gathered in Berlin this week to discuss the rebuilding of Ukraine and the development of a Marshall Plan.
Belarusian anti—war demonstrators continue to blow up bridges and rail lines to slow down an invasion through their country.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg vowed that NATO will not allow Russia to defeat Ukraine.
The Polish Senate voted to declare Russia and terrorist regime on Wednesday. U.S. President Joe Biden continues to refuse to do the same.
The U.S. announced another $275 million in military aid to Ukraine. The aid will consist of ammunition and rockets for military systems already delivered to Ukraine.
Iranians living in Ukraine have taken up protests in Kyiv in support of Ukraine and in opposition to their government’s support of Russia.